All of Mr Andrew Muir’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
It is a positive initiative. Ulster Wildlife is doing good work, and we are reliant on it to do that work. Alongside those nature-based solutions for water quality in Belfast lough, we need stronger regulation and enforcement on sewage pollution. I set that out in my oral statement last week. We need to address that.…
In April 2025, I published Northern Ireland's first blue carbon action plan. The plan outlines the actions required for the next five years to protect and restore our blue-carbon habitats and for their promotion as nature-based solutions for climate action and wider biodiversity. Through the environment fund, my…
When it comes to the performance and delivery of any council, it is for councillors to hold their officials to account. In Northern Ireland, we have legal targets for recycling. It is important that we meet those targets. We are also conscious of the issues. The issues of residual waste and shipping that away and the…
I sent an Executive paper to my colleagues last summer, and I continue to engage with them so that I can publish that. There is a real need for us to build on our success in recycling. That has plateaued in recent years, but we are sitting at around 50% in terms of households. That is a real achievement, but there is…
Recycling offers many benefits to our local economy. It supports our circular economy, keeps materials in use, reduces reliance on raw virgin materials and provides opportunities for companies to handle, process and reuse materials. However, those recycling benefits can only be realised if we accept that the quality…
Thank you. Robin did good work on this, and it is important that we are able to take this forward. When it comes to the regulation of the rescue and rehoming sector, officials are undertaking further policy development, looking at impact assessments and doing policy analysis. I am due to receive a submission on the…
Thank you, Paula. The legislation has been drafted and is being reviewed in conjunction with the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO). It is a complex policy that is specifically designed for Northern Ireland, and it is crucial that councils with responsibility for enforcement are given the chance to provide further…
As Minister, I am delighted to have recently published the consultation responses on and way forward for the sale and supply of puppies and kittens. That marks a significant milestone in my ongoing efforts to strengthen animal welfare protections in Northern Ireland. Working in partnership with councils, officials are…
Thank you. The issue that the Member has outlined properly sits with the Department of Health, because the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service sits in that Department. However, I say, "Thank you" to the range of stakeholders that work with us on the issue. Their contributions are invaluable. Stakeholder…
Yes, I do. Our farming community can play a fantastic role in that through better upland management. That is why we continue to roll out Farming with Nature. This year, we will expand the current transition scheme and provide additional measures that will be based on priority habitats and species. We will also issue a…
My Department has appointed a consortium of international wildfire experts, led by the Pau Costa Foundation, to deliver a suite of wildfire mitigation work across Northern Ireland. The multi-year project primarily seeks to identify the wildfire risk and develop wildfire management recommendations and response plans…
The work being undertaken to prepare for future wildfire seasons includes a range of actions. A wildfire action plan is being developed to accompany the 'Wildfires in Northern Ireland: Strategic Framework 2025-2030'. The action plan is being developed through the strategic wildfire group and the Northern Ireland…
As the Member is aware, the issue of veterinary medicines does not sit under my direction and control. It is something on which I engage with the UK Government, through their veterinary medicines working group. I am aware of the actions that they have taken to address some of the concerns. We will continue to monitor…
As Minister, I take the view that dual market access for Northern Ireland goods to GB and the EU is a great benefit and is something that we should be very keen to explore and exploit. Many companies and sectors across Northern Ireland benefit from dual market access, such as the dairy sector and Coca-Cola, Deli Lites…
The Member will be aware that negotiations on a UK-EU agri-food sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement are being led by the UK Government. My engagement with UK Government Ministers on that agreement has been positive, and I have been assured that the interests of Northern Ireland are being taken into account in…
Thank you, John. The carrier bag levy in Northern Ireland is the most extensive in the UK. In April 2022, my predecessor simplified the exemptions and increased the levy to 25p per bag. As part of the forthcoming waste prevention programme, we will consider options to continue to reduce consumption, including…
There are many ways to access it. That funding is distributed whenever it comes through every year. If people are interested in particular projects and they engage with the Department, we can see how relevant those projects are to the carrier bag levy. There are different streams of funding, and we are happy to see…
I am confident that the revenue has been spent appropriately. If there are any particular concerns, I would be grateful if you would raise them with me, and we can investigate them. I know of many initiatives that have been funded by that revenue and that it has had a benefit across Northern Ireland.
Since the regulations for the carrier bag levy came into operation, in 2013, proceeds have totalled just over £79 million. The carrier bag levy has changed customer behaviour and led to a significant decrease in carrier bag use. It is estimated that the levy has resulted in approximately 2·6 billion fewer bags being…
With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to update Members on the actions that my Department is taking to strengthen regulation of and enforcement on waste water pollution. Our rivers, lakes and loughs face mounting and unacceptable pressures. Only 29% of our surface water bodies now achieve good ecological…
The draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 That the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 be approved.
My Department undertakes sampling, whether that is at bathing water sites or other outlets. I am happy to write to the Member with our findings from the recent analysis.
The state of Belfast lough continues to concern me. The fundamental issue is about dealing with the sewage pollution that is occurring. I will bring a paper to my Executive colleagues on stronger regulation and enforcement relating to that sewage pollution. There is also a role to be played, and we need to have a…
I am very conscious that DFI Rivers sits in the Department for Infrastructure. All statutory consultees have a role to play. Our planning performance improvement plan has a number of strands, including technical advice and guidance, caseload management, monitoring and reporting on performance, processes and IT…
As I discussed earlier in Question Time, a planning performance improvement plan is in place for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. It is important that we deliver on that. We are very aware that responses are not being provided in an efficient and effective manner, and it is important that we turn that around.…